Adjective Agreement & Placement In Spanish, adjectives must match the genders of their designated noun. Usually, nouns that end in "a" are feminine and words that end in "o" are masculine. Adjectives must "agree" with those nouns. LONERS and DIÓNZA
Although it may seem like a weird concept all nouns are either masculine or feminine and the adjective must agree with it. Feminine nouns usually end in -d -ion -z or -a and masculine nouns usually end in -l -o -n -e -r or -s. But be careful because there are exceptions to the rules. When an adjective is describing a feminine noun the adjective will end in -a. When a noun is masculine, the adjective describing it will end in -o. An -s will also be added to the -a or -o for plural nouns.
In Spanish, an adjective will follow the noun instead of coming before it. In English you would say the blue shoes, but in Spanish you would say the shoes blue.
Ex.
Los zapátos azul
NOT: Los azul zapátos
Example: Ella es simpática. Because the subject of the sentence is a female, the adjective describing her must also be feminine. Another important component in adjective agreement is whether it should be singular or plural. If the given noun is plural, simply add an "s" to the end of the adjective. Example: Ellos son altos. Because the subject of the sentence is plural, an "s" is added to the adjective that is describing it.
Singular Masculine
-o
Plural Masculine
-os
Singular Feminine
-a
Plural Feminine
-as
Although gender rules do not apply to adjectives that end in "e", use of singular/plural tense is still necessary. Example: Mario es intelligente. Mario y Juana son intelligentes. Note how the tense changed to plural when the subject did.
In addition to gender agreement, adjective placement is very important in Spanish grammar. The table below provides a basic understanding for adjective placement. Take into consideration that, as always, there are irregularities. http://spanish.about.com/cs/grammar/a/whereadjective.htm
Adjective
Placement
Example
Colors
After the noun
La flor roja, the red rose
Indicating membership/classification
After the noun
La mujer ecuatoriana, the Ecuadoran woman
Modified by an adverb or phrase
After the noun
La taza llena de agua, the cup full of water
Multiple adjectives
After the noun
La casa grande y cara, the big and expensive house
When deciding where to put an adjective, there are several things you must take into account. There are two places you can put a noun: You can describe a noun with a verb (SER!) in between the adjective. ie. "I am blonde." Translates to "Yo soy rubio (a)."
OR
Put the adjective directly after the noun. In English you would write, "The sick horse", but in Spanish you would write, "La caballa enferma".
THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT POINT!
When putting in your adjective, make sure you pay attention to the word you are describing! In Spanish, words can either be masculine or feminine.
Feminine Singular: -a ie. La verdura talentosa Feminine Plural: -as ie. Las calculadoras son bajas. Masculine Singular: -o ie. El asiento rojo Masculine Plural: -os ie. Los libros son serios.
If the noun is plural, make the adjective plural! Some adjectives may end with an -e, and can stay the same for both feminine and masculine:
Example: Joven ------> Jóvenes
Notice the accent mark added! Not every adjective has this**
In Spanish, adjectives must match the genders of their designated noun. Usually, nouns that end in "a" are feminine and words that end in "o" are masculine. Adjectives must "agree" with those nouns.
LONERS and DIÓNZA
Although it may seem like a weird concept all nouns are either masculine or feminine and the adjective must agree with it. Feminine nouns usually end in -d -ion -z or -a and masculine nouns usually end in -l -o -n -e -r or -s. But be careful because there are exceptions to the rules. When an adjective is describing a feminine noun the adjective will end in -a. When a noun is masculine, the adjective describing it will end in -o. An -s will also be added to the -a or -o for plural nouns.
In Spanish, an adjective will follow the noun instead of coming before it. In English you would say the blue shoes, but in Spanish you would say the shoes blue.
Ex.
Los zapátos azul
NOT: Los azul zapátos
Example:
Ella es simpática.
Because the subject of the sentence is a female, the adjective describing her must also be feminine.
Another important component in adjective agreement is whether it should be singular or plural. If the given noun is plural, simply add an "s" to the end of the adjective.
Example:
Ellos son altos.
Because the subject of the sentence is plural, an "s" is added to the adjective that is describing it.
Although gender rules do not apply to adjectives that end in "e", use of singular/plural tense is still necessary.
Example:
Mario es intelligente.
Mario y Juana son intelligentes.
Note how the tense changed to plural when the subject did.
In addition to gender agreement, adjective placement is very important in Spanish grammar. The table below provides a basic understanding for adjective placement. Take into consideration that, as always, there are irregularities.
http://spanish.about.com/cs/grammar/a/whereadjective.htm
a noun)
Rags to Riches
Placement Quiz
Agreement Quiz
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Adjective Agreement & Placement
When deciding where to put an adjective, there are several things you must take into account. There are two places you can put a noun: You can describe a noun with a verb (SER!) in between the adjective. ie. "I am blonde." Translates to "Yo soy rubio (a)."
OR
Put the adjective directly after the noun. In English you would write, "The sick horse", but in Spanish you would write, "La caballa enferma".
THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT POINT!
When putting in your adjective, make sure you pay attention to the word you are describing! In Spanish, words can either be masculine or feminine.
Feminine Singular: -a ie. La verdura talentosa Feminine Plural: -as ie. Las calculadoras son bajas. Masculine Singular: -o ie. El asiento rojo Masculine Plural: -os ie. Los libros son serios.
If the noun is plural, make the adjective plural! Some adjectives may end with an -e, and can stay the same for both feminine and masculine:
Example: Joven ------> Jóvenes
Notice the accent mark added! Not every adjective has this**
PRACTICE: Fix the Sentences!
La galleta es delicioso.
Yo tengo un amarillo papel.
Matt Smith esta guapo.
Hermione Granger es intellegentes.
Answers:
La galleta es deliciosA.
Yo tengo un papel AMARILLO.
Matt Smith ES guapo.
Hermione Granger es inteligente.